LaHood decision leaves crowded field of candidates

Saturday

Jul 28, 2007 at 12:01 AMJul 28, 2007 at 8:56 PM

Possible successors line up behind LaHood

Jennifer Davis

While no one is ready to jump in just yet, several people are admitting they are "seriously considering it" — ranging from one of LaHood’s sons, to several Peoria-area politicians, to a Quincy state senator who is being courted by national Democrats.

One of the most obvious possible candidates is LaHood’ son, Darin, who said Friday, "I like politics; I like government. I’m going to keep my options open. Obviously, I know you’re aware, I’m looking at the (Peoria County) state’s attorney’s office, and we’ll see how all that plays out. I think that there will be lot of dominoes that happen here in the next month, two months. I’m going to see how all that plays out."

Darin LaHood, who moved back to Peoria in 2005 after a stint as an assistant U.S. attorney in Las Vegas, is currently a private practice attorney.

"I think there’s going to be a lot of quality people that are going to look at this seat. We’re going to have 10 or 15 people, and there will be a lot of quality people in government, maybe outside of government that are going to be interested in doing it. It’ll be a competitive primary."

Others considering it include longtime state Rep. David Leitch, R-Peoria.

"I’m taking a look at it. I hope to decide fairly soon. I am interested, and I am taking a look. It’s a big decision, but I’ve had a lot of encouragement from people calling me up," Leitch said, admitting he’s already had conversations with national Republicans.

Interestingly, Leitch’s protege, state Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, also is weighing his options.

Schock, a young, popular Republican with extremely strong local name recognition, fund-raising abilities and a record of winning a Democrat-leaning district, said he would "absolutely consider" a run for the post in November 2008.

Both Leitch and Schock would have to give up their current state House seats to do so.

State Sen. John Sullivan, D-Quincy, also would have to choose as his Senate seat is up next year.

"Obviously, I think the announcement came as a surprise to a lot of people, to me. I do think it’s an opportunity. I know I will be making a decision in the very near future, the next few days."

Sullivan ousted a longtime Republican incumbent in 2002, one of the closest and most expensive state Senate races in that election cycle. He admits he’s been contacted by U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s office and other national Democrats.

Though LaHood’s 20-county district was drawn to protect him, political observers note that Democrats are riding high nationally, particularly after winning 30 House seats from the Republicans in the 2006 election.

At the same time, however, a GOP representative has held the seat in the 18th Congressional District for most of the past century.

Other local Republicans, not currently holding political office, are also open about their interest.

Former At-large City Councilman John Morris, who decided not to seek another four-year term this spring, said he’s "certainly exploring it — just like I did two years ago."

And Valerie Umholtz, a Pekin attorney and wife of Tazewell County State’s Attorney Stewart Umholtz, said: "If Ray LaHood had stayed in office four to six more years, I knew I was going to consider running for his open seat. With him leaving this early, I have to look at that consideration earlier than I thought I would have to, instead of in the future."

Mayor Jim Ardis, another name floated by local Republicans, is more coy, saying: "From a timing standpoint, I didn’t see this coming. It’s something that I had not contemplated at this point."